Shin-ichi Izumi, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
Development of new rehabilitation systems that use repetitive pulse magnetic stimulation for independence support for patients with movement disorders

In this research, we attempted to develop a medical and rehabilitation system that detects human motion by real-time motion analysis and provides peripheral nerve and brain paired associative magnetic stimulation. We found that the extended angle of the finger joint significantly increased by using the magnetic stimulation system with real-time motion analysis in stroke patients. In addition, the flexed angle of the wrist joint increased by using the paired associative magnetic stimulation system and the effect lasted for a long time. These results suggest that the transformation of the primary motor cortex was promoted by using our system that was synchronized for human motion. We would like to combine magnetic stimulation system, real-time motion analysis system, and optimally human-friendly design for enhancing the quality of life of stroke patients as soon as possible.

Our focus is on effective rehabilitation devices that use available transcranial magnetic stimulation in order to change the excitability of the brain using a noninvasive approach for stroke patients with motion paralysis caused by cerebral damage. We are striving to develop the best design solution for posture and limb position that considers the effects on motor function and to develop a system that enables patients to maintain a new posture. The purpose of this study was to optimize the human support conditions that contributed to the stability of posture and the prevention of physical fatigue in stroke patients using a medical rehabilitation system that detects human motion by real-time motion analysis and provides peripheral nerve and brain-paired associative magnetic stimulation. The prototypes of the support of the chin and forehead and the chair with pelvic and lumbar supports were designed. The support of the chin and forehead prevented the bilateral tilt of the neck and the chair with pelvic and lumbar support prevented the backward tilt of the pelvis during sitting. It is considered that the optimized design of the supports for the chin, forehead, pelvis and lumbar promotes functional and comfortable posture and limb position.

Researchers

Hiroyasu Kanetaka, Graduate School of Dentistry
Development of the new stimulus-trigger system using the real-time motion analysis of the patients s[from FY2012]

Toshiyuki Takagi, Institute of Fluid Science
Development of high frequency magnetic stimulation system [from FY2012]

We develop a high frequency magnetic stimulation device which has downsized- and lightened-power unit and cooling unit in probes. Magnetic stimulation was carried out for peripheral nerve of the forearm of healthy adults by using this device. Dorsiflexion movement of the wrist was measured using a digital goniometer. We evaluated the influence of the magnetic stimulation on peripheral nerve by taking into account the relationship between the displacement of the wrist and the conditions of magnetic stimulation; stimulation strength, stimulation span, stimulation frequency. We found that the movement of the skeletal muscle in the forearm can be controllable in wide range according to the conditions of magnetic stimulation.